Up-and-Coming Stars in N.M. Film Project

Published: Friday, January 11th, 2013 at 12:05am

Updated: Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 11:47pm

In a production still provided by Film4, from left, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson are shooting the movie “Frank” in New Mexico. Crews were filming near the West Mesa earlier this week. (Courtesy Film4)

“Frank” is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, played by Gleeson, who discovers he has bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank, played by Fassbender.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production will employ 100 New Mexico crew members and 500 background talent. Twenty New Mexico principal actors include Lauren Poole and Kevin Wiggins.

Poole has appeared in the Blackout Theatre’s online series “Lynette the Burqueña” series, and Wiggins has been seen in “Breaking Bad” and “Love Ranch.”

Nick Maniatis, director of the film office, said “Frank” will be filmed in and around Albuquerque, Zia Pueblo, Estancia and Socorro County. Crews were filming near the West Mesa earlier this week.

Fassbender has starred in “Prometheus,” “Shame” and “X-Men: First Class.” Gyllenhaal has been seen in “The Dark Knight” and “Crazy Heart,” which was filmed in New Mexico. Gleeson was last seen in “Anna Karenina” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II.”

After filming in New Mexico, cast and crew will head to Ireland to finish production on the film.

It is directed by Leonard Abrahamson and produced by David Baron, Ed Guiney and was developed by Film4 and is being financed by Film4, the BFI, The Irish Film Board and Sandia Media.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal